Steam-turbine.



No. 802,458. PATENTED OCT. 24, 1905. A. JOHNSON.

STEAM TURBINE.

APPLICATION FILED mum. 1905.

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'N0. 8O2,453., PATENTED 00124, 1905.

A. JOHNSON.

STEAM TURBINE.

AYPLIGATION TILED MAR.2, 1905.

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No. 802,453. PATENTED OCT. 24, 1905. A. JOHNSON.

STEAM TURBINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.Z, 1905.

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STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AUGUST JOHNSON, OF MOLINE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO BARNARD AND LEAS MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF MOLINE, ILLINOIS.

STEAM-TURBIN E.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 24, 1905.

Application filed March 2, 1905. Serial No. 248,136.

To (ti/Z who/1t it nut l concern:

Be it known that I, AUGUST J OHNSON, of Moline, in the county of Rock Island and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steam-Turbine Rotary Engines; andI hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

This invention relates to what are commonly termed turbine-engines, adapted to be operated by expansive fluids or gases, such as steam; and the object of the present invention is to obtain the greatest eificiency in horsepower per pound of pressure of the steam or other actuating fluid used therein, to utilize the pressure, velocity, and expansive force of this steam in driving the moving parts in a single-unit engine, and to further utilize the expansive force of the steam by providing a compound engine.

In the preferred form of my engine the propelling fluid,which I will hereinafter for brevity simply refer to as steam, passes or flows axially of the main shaft and is caused to pass between alternate series of fixed and movable vanes or blades of peculiar construction and arrangement, whereby the steam is caused to act by impulses or a succession of thrusts upon the movable parts Without the necessity of employing a pulsometer-governor or other device for alternating or intermittin g the flow of steam to the engine. The supply and exhaust of steam may be constant; but in its passage through the' operative parts the steam is pulsated, as will be hereinafter more fully explained, so that I realize to a very large degree its kinetic energy, the relatively fixed and movablevanes being so constructed that the movable vanes intermittently check the escape of steam from the pockets, allowing slight expansion thereof in the pockets while thus checked, although the inlets to the pockets are never closed. The vanes are preferably arranged in successive annular series around the circumference of the shaft or a cylindrical enlargement thereon,an d the steam stopped or checked momentarily in one series of pockets is then admitted into the next series of pockets, again checked, and then admitted into the succeeding series of pockets. At each checking of the steam its slight expan sion tends to rotate the shaft, and as the steam enters the pockets in jets its impact and reaction are also utilized to propel or rotate the shaft. The vanes are so arranged that while the steam-flow is at no time out off, so as to result in loss of energy during its passage through the engine, yet, as above stated, it is caused to progress in a step-by-step or pulsating motion through the working parts of the engine Without at any time having an opportunity to blow through the engine without effective utilization therein.

The essential feature of the invention, there fore, is the peculiar construction whereby the characteristic mode of operation above stated is realized, and I refer to the claims for summaries of the various features of construction and operation of parts embraced in the invention and for which protection is desired, and I refer to the following detailed description of the compound engine illustrated in the accompanying drawings to enable those familiar with the art to readily comprehend the nature and substance of my invention.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of a complete triple-expansion engine embodying my in vention. Fig. 2 is atransverse section, enlarged, on line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a similar section on line?) 3, Fig. 1. Figs. i and 5 are de tail front and rear views of part of one of the stationary set of vanes which are attached to the casing. Figs. 6 and 7 are similar views of one of the set of movable vanes attached to the shaft or cylindrical enlargement thereof. Figs. 8 and 9 are diagrams or detail developed plan views, showing the arrangement of the vanes and the working chambers or pockets and expansion-chambers or jet-heads of the engine.

Referring first to Figs. 8 and 9, I have shown therein three series 1 2 3 of vanes (o alternating with three series 1 2 3 of vanes 6. These vanes a are preferably fixed relatively to the vanes Z), which are preferably movable. The vanes a are approxi mately wedge-shaped, leaving openings which I term expansionchambers a. between each pair of vanes. Each expansion-chamber a is of large area at its receiving end and terminates at its discharge end in a small jet-ap erture a The vanes bare preferably tapered oppositely to the vanes a and are concavoconvex in cross-section, and the spaces between them form working chambers or pock' ets b, as I shall hereinafter term them.

Each pocket 6 is very wide at its receiving end (which is adjacent to the discharge end a of the next preceding expansion-chambers a) and contracting to small discharge-aperture 5 adjacent to the mouths of the next succeeding series of expansion-chambers. Thus, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the small or discharge end of the expansion-chambers (I, will communicate with the large ends of the pockets Z), while the small ends of the pockets 6' will communicate with the large ends a of the expansion-chambers. It will be observed, furthermore, that the general'direction of the expansion-chambers a is at an angle to the general direction of the pockets 7), and consequently the steam forcibly escaping from an expansion-chamber impinges against the concave walls or sides of the next adjacent pockets in such manner as to move the pocket by impact and reaction away from the expansion-chamber, and the steam escaping from such pockets into the next adjacent expansionchambers will similarly impinge upon the oppositely-inclined wall or surface of said pockets, and the impact and reaction therein will further tend to move the pockets relatively to the expansion-chambers. Thus the steam both in entering and in leaving the pockets tends to produce a movement of one part relative to the other by reaction and impact, and the vanes are so shaped that approximately the whole power force developed by the jets of steam both in entering and leaving the expansion chambers and pockets is conserved. I also utilize the inherent elasticity or expansiveness of the steam in all the pockets, so that each pocket becomes, in fact, momentarily a working chamber in which the parts are moved by the expansive force of steam much after the manner in which a piston is driven in a cylinder-engine.

Again referring to Figs. 8 and 9, it will be noted that the vanes (I, in the successive series 1 2 3 are not in exact alinement, the vanes in the intermediate series 2 breaking joints with the vanes in the adjacent series 1 and 8, and if these vanes were applied to the surface of a cylinder the vanes in the successive series would appear as if arranged spirally upon such cylinder. Similarly, the relatively movable vanes 6 break joints and would appear as if spirally arranged when attached to the inner periphery of a cylinder. By reason of this arrangement it results that when the pockets in one series are receiving steam the pockets in the next adjacent series will be closed (provided such series of pockets is inclosed between two series of expansion-cham bers) and, as shown in Fig. 9, when the pockets in the first series 1 are receiving steam from the first series of chambers 1 said pockets are closed by the ends of the vanes a in the next adjacent series 2 while the second series of pockets 2" are at the same time receiving steam from the second series of expansion-chambers 1 and may likewise be discharging into the third series of expansionchambers 3 and the third series of expansionchambers 3* discharge into the third series of pockets 3 Thus in Fig. 8 steam will be acting expansively in the first row of pockets 1*, and at the same time it will be acting by impact and reaction in the second row of pockets 2 and will be acting by impact in the third row of pockets 3 In Fig. 9 the parts have changed position sufliciently to allow the series of pockets 1 to discharge into the second row of expansion-chambers 2, from which the steam enters the second row of pockets 2 which are momentarily closed, as shown, so that the steam acts by expansion therein, and at the same time the expansionchambers in row 3 are discharging expanding steam into the series of pockets 3. By an inspection of these two figures it will be seen that the rows of pockets 1 and 2" are alternately closed and the pockets 3" would be closed in alternation with the pockets T if a fourth row of vanes a was placed beside it in proper position; but at no time is there a direct passage formed between any series of pockets and chambers through which steam might blow directly through the engine and waste. Of course where not more than three series of pockets are employed, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, and the parts are not made with absolute mathematical precision it might possibly happen that at some point or points in the movement of the pockets very minute openings or leaks might be formed through which steam might blow; but as the steam jet openings (0 are separated by chambers of relatively considerable area and are never in direct line there will never be in practice any direct blowing out or waste of steam. The bases of the vanes are elongated, as shown at 6 sufiiciently to reduce the escape-ports b from the chambers, so that these ports will be closed when they come directly opposite the narrow ends (0 of the vanes a, and such peculiar construction and relative proportioning of the vanes I consider a material feature of my invention.

If steam be admitted at the right-hand side of a set of vanes, such as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, it will jet from the apertures (6 into the larger end of the first set of pockets 1". If such chambers be at that moment in the position shownin Fig. 8, the entering steam will be momentarily checked, because the outlets are closed by the smaller ends of the vanes a in row 2 Consequently the steam being confined momentarily in the first set of pockets 1 by its natural elasticity and expansion will tend to move the vane Z) to the right, or up, in the direction in which the steam is entering until the ports 5 are open, whereupon the steam, under expansive pressure, rushes through the ports 6 into the second set of expansion-chambers 2 and its reaction tends to drive the pockets 1 forward with greater mmentum. Chambers 2 at their receiving ends are of relatively large capacity as compared with the ports 6 so the steam escapes rapidly from the pockets in row 1, but is again constricted and jets with violence from the sec ond series of chambers 2 into the second series of pockets 2, which, as shown in Fig. 9, are at this moment closed, so that the steam is again momentarily checked and its expansive force utilized in moving the second series of vanes in row 2 until the pockets in this row are opened, whereupon the steam is exhausted into the third row of expansion-chambers 3 and then admitted into the third row of pockets 3. In this way the steam may be said to jump successively from one row of pockets to the other and in each pocket finds an opportunity to exert some of its expansive power in imparting motion to the movable parts.

In practiceI have arranged aseries of vanes 71 upon the periphery of a shaft or cylindrical enlargement of such shaft and have placed the series of vanes a within a cylinder surrounding such shaft, so that the sets of vanes (b b have the relation indicated in Figs. 8 and 9, and upon the admission of steam into one end of the cylinder it passed between the vanes and imparted a rotary movement to the shaft in the manner described, and I obtained high speed and relatively great power therefrom, and this is the preferred construction. I have illustrated in Fig. 1 a compound engine embodying three units, each comprising sets of such vanes a 6, adapted to utilize fully the expansize power of the steam.

In Fig. 1. S designates the main shaft, upon which are mounted three engine units or sections of successively larger diameter, the first section comprising four sets of vanes 1 2 3 4, similar to those shown in Figs. 8 and 9 and which are preferably formed on rings B, secured to the shaft S, one of these rings, with its vanes 6, being shown in-detail in Figs. 6 and 7. The series of vanes l" 2 3 4 alternate with series of vanes 1 2 3 4, the vanes a being preferably formed on rings A, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, which are secured within a cylindrical portion A of the casing A of the machine inclosing the said rings A and B. This is the high-pressure unit of the compound engine. Steam is admitted to the first series of vanes from a chamber C in the end of the casing, to which steam is supplied at 0 from any suitable generator. Steam escapes from the last series of pockets 4 in chamber A into an enlarged annular duct or chamber (1, from which it is admitted into the second unit of the engine, which consists of three rows 5 6 7 of vanes a on rings A, of larger diameter than those in the first series, but otherwise constructed exactly like them, alternating with three rows 5" 6 7 of vanes 6 on ber C.

but of larger diameter. The second or intermediate series of vanes 5 6 7 5 6 7 b are inclosed in a chamber A, in which the steam is utilized after its first expansion in the cham- The steam escapes from chamber A into a second annular expansion-chamber C from whence after further expansion it passes through a chamber A containing a third series of vanes 8 8 9 9 on alternatings rings A and B, respectively, attached to the casing and to an enlargement S on the shaft, as previously described, this last set of vanes in the chamber A forming the third or final expansion unit of the compound engine. From chamber A the steam finally escapes into an annular chamber from which it passes to exit 0*. The rings A may be spaced apart by annular fillers A, inserted in the chambers A A A", and the rings B may be spaced apart by rings B, as indicated in the drawings. The rings should be fitted as closely together as is possible, so that the vanes b will run close to and between the vanes a to prevent any leakage of steam therebetween and aconsequentloss of power. In each chamber A A and A the fixed and stationary vanes have the relative arrangement shown in the Figs. 8 and 9 and have the relative functions previously described in connection with said figures.

In the chamber A the steam works under highest pressure, and its expansive action in the pockets in this chamber is due principally to the peculiar shape of the alternating expansion chambers and pockets. Upon entering the chamber C it expands, owing to the increased diameter of this chamber, and operates under less pressure, but still under gradual expansion in chamber A", and it finds a further opportunity for expansion in chamber C and operates under final or lowest pressure in the chamber A. Preferably the vanes in each of the chambers are of uniform size, proportion, and arrangement, but owing to the increased diameter of the rings in the chamber A a greater number of vanes will be arranged in each row in the chamber A than in a row in chamber A, and for the same reason a greater number of vanes will be in each row in chamber A than are in a row in chamber A. Thus without varying the size of the vanes proper provision is made for utilizing the enlarged volume of steam due to the successive expansions thereof in the chambers O and C The shaft S preferably passes through suitably-stufied packing-boxes H and H within hollow castings or heads A" A, attached to the ends of the casing A. These heads are pro vided with bearings I and I for the journals of the shafts, which bearings are preferably located in oil-chambers J and J, formed in said castings and surrounding the journals, and oil may be supplied to the bearings in said rings B, similar to those in the first series, chambers by means of the lubricating-rings e' and d. The stufiing-boxes H and H are preferably protected from the heat by annular water-chambers K and K, formed in the heads A A of the casing, as shown, and through which water can be circulated by connecting pipes it it" to any suitable supply. The water-chambers keep the bearings of the shaft cool.

In an axial-flow turbine-engine considerable end thrust is developed on the shaft, and this I have provided for in two ways: First, to the head of the larger end of the casing is secured an adjustable gland L, against the end of which bears a hard-steel ring L, and opposite this ring L and bearing against a shoulder on the shaft is a hard-steel ring L and interposed between the rings L and L is a loose double-convex ring L These parts take up the end thrust of the shaft, and any slight wear on the rings can be compensated for by adjusting gland L. Preferably, however, I counterbalance the thrust by fluid-pressure, and for this purpose between the chamber C and K at the end adjacent the high-power unit I form a steam-chamber which is connected by a supply-pipe C with the steam-supply. WVithin this chamber and forming the wall thereof opposite the wall of chamber C is a disk S, which is tightly secured on 'shaft S and should be packed steam-tightly within or against the annular walls of chamber 0 The steam admitted into chamber acts against this disk S and obviously tends to move the shaft and all parts connected therewith in the direction opposite the flow of steam, and by properly regulating the pressure in the chamber 0 approximately an exact balance can be maintained between the thrust on the shaft, produced by the flow of steam between the vanes, and the pressure on the disk S Thus the thrust of the shaft on the gland L can be practically entirely neutralized.

The operation of the engine will be sufficiently obvious to those familiar with the art and from the foregoing explanation of the manner in which the steam acts in passing through the expansion-chambers and pockets. (Illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9.) It will be ob served that the pockets 6 are always in condition or open to receive steam; but their exits are intermittently closed to prevent the escape of steam therefrom, the exit of every pocket being closed once by every vane a which it passes during its movement therepast. Thus for each rotation of the shaft the exit of steam from every pocket will have been momentarily checked once by every vane which its discharge end passes, and thus while the amount of power developed by any one jet of steam or the expansion of steam in any one chamber is minute the number of them is so great that the total resultant power is enormous. In practice I have built a small double-expansion engine having three rows of pockets in the smaller cylinder and two rows of pockets in the larger cylinder, the smaller cylinder being about three inches in diameter and the larger cylinder about four, and obtained from such engine an efficiency of three-horse power under forty pounds steam-pressure at the entrance end and a pressure of ten pounds at the exhaust end, and obtained a speed of rotation without load of twenty thousand per minute.

Having thus described my invention, what Iclaim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In aturbine-engine, the combination of a series of rows of movable vanes, the spaces between which form pockets having large receiving ends and small discharge-openings, with fixed series of rows of vanes adjacent to the movable vanes and adapted to momentarily close the discharge ends of the pockets as the latter pass thereby; the pockets in succeeding rows being arranged in such manner that when the discharge ends of the pockets in one row are closed, the discharge ends of the pockets in an adjacent row are open.

2. In a turbine-engine, the combination of a plurality of rows of movable pockets having large receiving ends and small discharge-openings; with a plurality of rows of expansionchambers adjacent to the pockets, the walls or vanes between the expansion-chambers being adapted to momentarily close the discharge ends of the pockets as the latter pass; and the pockets in successive rows being so arranged that when the discharge ends of the pockets in one row are closed, the discharge ends of all the pockets in an adjacent row are open.

3. In a rotary steam-engine, a series of rows of fixed vanes alternating with a series of rows of movable vanes, the spaces between the fixed vanes constituting expansion-chambers, and the spaces between the movable vanes constituting working chambers or pockets; the pockets receiving steam from the expansionchambers at their large ends, and discharging steam at their small ends into the larger ends of the next row of expansion-chambers; both the expansion-chambers and the pockets being largest at their receiving ends, and the pockets in successive rows being arranged in such manner that when the discharge ends of the pockets in one row are closed, the discharge ends of all the pockets in the adjacent rows are open.

4:. In a steam-turbine, the combination of a series of rows of movable pockets having large receiving ends and small discharge'openings; with series of rows of expansion-chambers adjacent to the pockets, the walls between the expansion-chambers in each row being adapted to simultaneously close the discharge ends of all the pockets in the preceding adjacent row as they move thereby, and the pockets in successive rows being so arranged that when the discharge ends of the pockets in one row are closed, the discharge ends of the pockets in an adjacentrow are open, whereby the steam is caused to pass intermittently or pulsatingly through the engine, substantially as described.

5 In a turbine-engine, the combination of a plurality of annular rows of radially-disposed movable vanes, the spaces therebetween forming pockets having large receiving ends and small discharge-openings; with a plurality of rows of radially-disposed vanes adjacent to the movable vanes and adapted to momentarily close the discharge ends of the pockets as the latter move therepast, the pockets in the successive rows being arranged in such manner that when the discharge ends of the pockets in one row are closed, the discharge ends of all the pockets in the preceding row are opened, whereby the steam is caused to pass intermittently or pulsatingly through the engine, substantially as described.

6. In a rotary steam-engine, a series of annular rows of fixed vanes radially arranged within a cylinder, and a series of annular rows of vanes radially projecting from a shaft within the cylinder, the spaces between the fixed vanes constituting expansion-chambers and the spaces between the movable vanes constituting working chambers or pockets having large receiving ends and small discharge ends; the pockets receiving steam from the chambers between the fixed vanes at their large ends and discharging steam at their small ends into the larger ends of the next series of expansion-chambers, the pockets in successive rows being arranged in such manner that when the discharge ends of the pockets in one row are closed, the discharge ends of the pockets in the preceding adjacent row are open.

7. In a steam-turbine engine, the combination of a rotating member having a series of vanes attached thereto, the spaces between the vanes forming pockets having large receiving ends and small discharge ends; with a series of stationary vanes surrounding the rotating member and arranged between the series of movable vanes, the spaces between the fixed vanes forming steam-passages or expansionchambers having large receiving ends and small discharge ends, said stationary vanes being adapted to momentarily close the discharge ends of the pockets as they pass thereby, and the pockets in succeeding series being arranged in such manner that when the disch argc ends of the pockets in one series are closed, the

discharge ends of the pockets in the preceding adjacent series are open.

8. In a rotary engine, the combination of a shaft, a plurality of annular rows of pockets surrounding the shaft, said pockets having large receiving ends and small discharge ends, with annular rows of expansion-chambers surrounding the shaft and alternating with the rows of pockets, but fixed relatively thereto,

and adapted to communicate with the adjacent pockets, the walls between adjacent expansion-chambers serving as cut-ofis to momentarily close the discharge ends of the pockets as they move therepast, whereby the steam is momentarily checked in its flow through the working chambers or pockets, although continuously admitted thereto.

9. In a rotary engine, the combination of a shaft, a plurality of annular rows of pockets surrounding the shaft, said pockets having large receiving ends and small discharge ends, with annular rows of expansion-chambers surrounding the shaft and alternating with the rows of pockets, but fixed relatively thereto, said expansion-chambers having large receiving ends adapted to communicate with the discharge ends of the preceding row of pockets, and small discharge ends adapted to communicate with the large ends of the next adjacent row of pockets, the walls between the larger ends of adjacent expansion-chambers serving as cut-offs to momentarily close the discharge ends of the preceding row of pockets as they move therepast, whereby the steam is momentarily checked in its flow through the working chambers or pockets, while being continuously admitted thereto.

10. In a steam-turbine engine, the combination of a rotatable shaft and cylindrical casing inclosing the same, a pluralityof annular rows of radially-projecting vanes attached to and, rotating with the shaft; the spaces between said vanes forming pockets having large receiving ends and small discharge ends; with a plurality of annular rows of inwardly-projecting vanes fixedly attached to the casing and alternating with the rows of vanes on the shaft, the spaces between the fixed vanes forming steam-passages adapted to communicate with the adjacent pockets, the said stationary vanes being adapted to momentarily close the discharge ends of the pockets in the preceding row as they move therepast.

11. In a rotary engine, the combination of a rotatable shaft, a cylindrical casing inclosing the same, a plurality of annular rows of radially-projecting vanes attached to and rotating with the shaft; the spaces between said vanes forming pockets having large receiving ends and small discharge ends; with a plurality of annular rows of inwardly-projecting vanes fixedly attached to the casing and located intermediate the series of vanes on the shaft, the spaces between the fixed vanes forming expansion-chambers having large receiving ends adapted to communicate with the discharge ends of adjacent pockets, and small, discharge ends adapted to com- Inunicate with the large ends of next adjacent pockets; the said stationary vanes be ing adapted to momentarily close the discharge ends of all the pockets in the preceding row as they move therepast.

12. In a steam-turbine engine, the combination of a rotatable shaft and cylindrical casing inclosing the same, a plurality of annular rows of radially-projecting vanes attached to and rotating with the shaft; the spaces between said vanes forming pockets having large receiving ends and small discharge ends; with a plurality of annular rows of inwardly-projecting vanes fixedly attached to the casing and alternating with the rows of vanes on the shaft, the spaces between the fixed vanes forming steam-passages adapted to communicate with the adjacent pockets, the said stationary vanes being adapted to momentarily close the discharge ends of the pockets in the preceding row as they move therepast; said fixed vanes being arranged at an angle to the pockets, and said pockets being arranged at an angle to the axis of the shaft.

13. In a rotary engine, the combination of a rotatable shaft, a cylindrical casing inclosing the same, a plurality of annular rows of radially-projecting vanes attached to and rotating with the shaft; the spaces-between said vanes forming pockets having large receiving ends and small discharge ends; with a plurality of annular rows of inwardly-projecting vanes fixedly attached to the casing and located intermediate the series of vanes on the shaft, the spaces between the fixed vanes forming expansion-chambers having large receiving ends adapted to communicate with the discharge ends of adjacent pockets, and small discharge ends adapted to communicate with the large ends of next adjacent pockets; the said stationary vanes being adapted to momentarily close the dis charge ends of all the pockets in the preceding row as they move therepast; said expansionchambersbeing arranged at an angle to the pockets with which they communicate, and both expansion-chambers and pockets being arranged at an angle to the axis of the shaft; and means for admitting steam to flow longitudinally of the shaft through said pockets.

14. In combination with an axial-flow turbine-engine having a rotatable shaft carrying the moving vanes; of a closed chamber, adjacent to the working chamber of the engine, having a movable wall connected with the shaft and means for admitting fluid under pressure into said closed chamber and against said wall to counteract the thrust on the shaft produced by the engine, substantially as described.

15-. In a steam-turbine engine, the combination of a series of successively larger cylindrical chambers, a shaft extending through all of said chambers and having bearings in ends or heads attached to said casing; a series of radially-arranged inwardly-projecting vanes within each of said chambers and surrounding the shaft, a series of radially-arranged vanes attached to the shaft within each of said chambers, the spaces between the vanes on the casing forming expansionchambers and the spaces between the vanes on the shaft forming pockets or working chambers; the pockets having large receiving ends adapted to continuously receive steam from the expansion-chambers, and,

small discharge ends, adapted to deliver steam into succeeding expansion-chambers, the discharge ends of the pockets being closed by the fixed vanes as the pockets move therepast, whereby pulsating or intermittent movement of the steam through the series of pockets is caused; without checking the inflow of steam thereinto; with means for admitting steam into the receiving end of the small cylinder, means for discharging steam from the discharge end of the larger cylinder; and means for relieving the end thrust on the shaft.

16. In a steamturbine, the combination of a casing having a series of successively larger cylindrical chambers, a shaft extending through all of said chambers and having bearings in ends or heads attached to said casing; enlargements on said shaft of successively greater diameter within the said chambers; a series of radially-arranged inwardly-projecting vanes within each of said chambers and surrounding the enlargements on the shaft; a series of radially-arranged vanes attached to the enlargements of the shaft within each chamber, the spaces between the vanes on the casing forming expansion-chambers, and the spaces between the vanes on the shaft forming pockets or working chambers. said expansion-chambers having large receiving ends and small discharge ends, and said pockets having large receiving ends adapted to continuously receive steam from the expansion-chambers, and small discharge ends, adapted to deliver steam into succeeding expansion-chambers, the expansion-chambers being arranged at an angle to the pockets, and the discharge end of all the pockets in a row being simultaneously closed by the fixed vanes as they move therepast, whereby pulsating or intermittent movement of the steam through the series of pockets is caused, without checking the inflow of steam; means for admitting steam into the receiving end of the small cylinder, and means for discharging steam from the discharge end of the larger cylinder, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses:

AUGUST JOHNSON. In presence of- BENJ. R. JoHNsoN, ARTHUR E. DOWELL. 

